Combined magazine rack and toilet paper holder

ABSTRACT

A storage unit for use in the bathroom combines a magazine rack with a toilet paper roll storage area. A door selectively conceals or provides access to the toilet paper storage area. In addition, a sliding plate provides the support surface for additional elements such as a coffee cup.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application relates to a combination storage system for use in a bathroom, wherein a magazine rack is combined with a toilet paper holder, and a sliding door conceals the toilet paper holder.

The organization and storage of items within a bathroom environment proves challenging. Typically, toilet paper holders may be placed upon a stand, or mounted within a bathroom wall. In many bathrooms, separate magazine racks are utilized to store reading material. The use of the separate components has sometimes resulted in a cluttered appearance for many modern bathrooms.

While proposed combination elements have been described in various patents, none of these have been truly practical, or themselves aesthetically pleasing. As an example, one proposed system combines a magazine rack with a storage pin for holding a toilet paper roll. However, it would be desirable to provide a more aesthetically pleasing component.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a disclosed embodiment of this invention, a combined storage element includes a magazine rack area, and an area for mounting toilet paper rolls on pins. The toilet paper roll area is selectively concealed by a sliding door. The sliding door makes the combined element more aesthetically pleasing.

In disclosed additional features of this invention, there are a pair of toilet paper roll mounts concealed by the door. Further, a sliding plate may be placed into the storage element and utilized to support additional elements such as a coffee cup.

These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the inventive storage unit mounted within a wall in a bathroom.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the inventive element.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the inventive element.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a bathroom storage element 20 mounted adjacent to a toilet 22. As shown, the element 20 is mounted within a wall 24. A fence 26 holds magazines 28 within a magazine rack space 30. A sliding door 32 is mounted beneath the fence 26, and is selectively slidable vertically upwardly and downwardly, as will be explained below.

A plate 34 is slidable horizontally outwardly of the element 20 to provide an additional support surface as will be explained below.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the door 32 is slid vertically upwardly, toilet paper rolls 38 are exposed. These rolls are stored within spaces 40 beneath the fence 26. Side walls 36 carry tracks 37 that guide the door 32 for movement vertically upwardly. It should be understood that the guidance of the door 32 within the tracks 37 is such that the door 32 will remain stationary when it has been moved vertically upwardly, until the user moves it back vertically downwardly. As shown, even with the door 32 in its vertically upward position, magazines 28 are still accessible.

The plate 34 is shown slid horizontally outwardly to provide a support surface. In the disclosed embodiment, the support surface may support a coffee cup 42. An upper molding 44 is positioned above the plate 34.

As shown in FIG. 3, the toilet paper rolls 38 are mounted on pins 39 mounted within the storage spaces 40.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the combination of elements, and the storage element 20 mounted within the wall 24.

The door 32 is shown in FIG. 4 in a downwardly position, but the track 37 is shown. A worker of ordinary skill in the art would recognize how to provide an appropriate track that will hold the door at its upper position until moved back downwardly by an operator.

The present invention thus provides a more aesthetically pleasing storage element for use in a bathroom. By selectively concealing the toilet paper rolls, the combined storage element 20 is more aesthetically pleasing. Further, the use of the plate 34 provides additional functional features to a user, such as an ability to support additional component 42. As shown in FIG. 4, the plate 34 is slidable within a slot 48. As can be appreciated, the plate 34 is manufactured to be long enough, such that even when slid outwardly, it still will be able to support an element such as a coffee cup without tipping. Some stop will preferably be placed upon the plate 34 to prevent further movement outwardly.

While the combined unit 20 is shown mounted within a wall 24, it should be understood that similar features can be provided for a unit that is to be mounted onto a wall, rather than into a wall. In any configuration, it is preferred that the combined unit be easily mounted within the wall such as by anchors, screws, etc.

Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention. 

1. A storage unit for use in a bathroom comprising: a magazine storage area; and a toilet paper roll storage area mounted beneath said magazine storage area, said toilet paper roll storage area having a pin to mount a toilet paper roll, the pin having a longitudinal axis, and a door selectively slidable only in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the pin to conceal and provide access to said toilet paper roll storage area, wherein the magazine storage area remains accessible when the toilet paper roll storage area is accessible.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein there are a pair of pins to mount a pair of toilet paper rolls within said toilet paper roll storage area.
 4. (canceled)
 5. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein said door is slid vertically upwardly, said magazine storage area is still accessible.
 6. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein said door is slidable within a track such that said door will remain in a vertically upward position to provide access to said toilet paper roll storage area.
 7. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein a plate is slidable horizontally outwardly away from the storage unit to provide a support surface for additional components.
 8. A storage unit for use in a bathroom comprising: a magazine storage area; a toilet paper roll storage area, said toilet paper roll storage area having a pair of pins to mount a pair of toilet paper rolls, and a door selectively slidable to conceal and provide access to said toilet paper roll storage area; said toilet paper roll storage area mounted beneath said magazine storage area, and when said door is slid vertically upwardly, magazines are still accessible within said magazine storage area, and said door remaining in a vertically upward position to provide access to said toilet paper roll storage area; and a plate slidable horizontally outwardly away from the storage unit to provide a support surface for additional components. 